Two Longmont arts groups talk merger

Firehouse Arts Center's financial difficulties may force a vote on a merger with the LCA

By Quentin YoungLongmont Times-Call

Posted:
12/17/2012 08:28:11 PM MST

Updated:
12/17/2012 08:30:02 PM MST

Leaders of Longmont's Firehouse Art Center and the Longmont Council for the Arts since at least August have discussed the possibility of the nonprofit Council taking over the nonprofit Firehouse in some fashion, according to those involved in the discussion. The Firehouse board of directors is expected to meet in executive session Tuesday to discuss the matter and possibly vote on it, Vern Seieroe, president of the board, said Monday.

The Firehouse operates a gallery and education program, and rents artist studios, in downtown Longmont. The LCA oversees a set of performing and visual arts programs, including Muse Gallery on Main Street in Longmont.

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(Debbie Adams, president of Longmont Council for the Arts)

The idea of the Firehouse organization being folded into the Council's set of programs, or some other form of union of the two entities, arose in response to the Firehouse's chronic financial difficulties. Seieroe first suggested some kind of merger to Council leaders this summer, though the suggestion was partly "humorous" at that point, Seieroe said. But leaders from the two sides began to discuss it seriously, most recently on Friday. That's when the issue was discussed in a meeting that included Seieroe, Firehouse board Vice President Tom McCoy, Firehouse Executive Director Judy Bigger, LCA President Debbie Adams, LCA Executive Director Joanne Kirves, Longmont City Councilman Alex Sammoury, Longmont City Manager Harold Dominguez and others, according to Adams.

Adams came away from the meeting believing that the Firehouse is almost out of funds but that its leaders now seem to be resisting change.

"They don't have a lot of money left," she said. "They probably can't even make payroll this month."

She said the LCA is in a solid financial situation and is willing to take over responsibility for the Firehouse to maintain it as a contributor to the local arts scene. But Firehouse leaders seemed not to be "accepting responsibility for their poor leadership," Adams said.

"It could very well be that the Firehouse has to fail" before it can be rebuilt by another organization such as the LCA, Adams said.

Seieroe in an interview Monday said he's not sure whether a merger with the LCA is the best choice for the Firehouse, and he said he wasn't sure if the Firehouse board of directors would immediately vote on the matter.

The Firehouse currently has "several thousand dollars" on hand, he said. He acknowledged funds are low, but he said it's not unusual for small nonprofits to run low on money and experience an "ebb and flow" of funds. Also, nonprofits often enjoy a surge of donations as the year comes to a close, he said, adding that the Firehouse has "several irons in the fire" in its fundraising efforts.

On the idea of a merger with the LCA, he said, "My personal feeling is it's important to do what's best for the community."

In an email Seieroe wrote on Dec. 6 to Stephanie Hilvitz, who has since resigned her position as a member of the Firehouse board, Seieroe indicated the board was opposed to a merger.

"The Firehouse board has indicated by consensus that it is not willing, at this time, to merge with the LCA," he wrote to Hilvitz, who had advocated joining forces with the LCA. Later he wrote, "Your suggestion has been discussed by the board. It is clear to me and fellow officers that the members of the board want to direct their energy towards bringing funds into the Firehouse and not giving up."

Hilvitz said she neither recalled the board ever discussing the issue nor saw it mentioned in minutes from meetings she missed.

Several of the Firehouse board officers, including Seieroe, formed an executive committee.

"I felt that the executive committee on the board were not open to what I felt was the only way to keep the doors to the Firehouse open," Hilvitz said.

The Firehouse missed a deadline earlier this year to submit a grant application to the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District, which it has long relied on for a significant portion of its funds. In 2011 a major grant from the Denver Foundation failed to come through for the Firehouse. The Firehouse has cycled through at least seven executive directors since 2008. It's on its second artistic director since 2011. At least four board members have resigned in recent months.

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